Keeping It Clean – May 3 Referendum Focuses on Environment

The Cary Town Council has called for a $120 million Clean Water Bonds referendum on the first Tuesday in May.

The ’05 referendum will ask Cary citizens to give the Town permission to use a special type of financing—general obligation bonds. The amounts are $10 million to preserve additional open space and $110 million to help pay for Cary ’s share of new, regional wastewater facilities.

The purpose is to enable Cary to continue protecting natural resources and to ensure that infrastructure for Cary ’s future needs will be in place when needed.

General obligation financing enables governments to borrow money at low interest rates, opening the way for projects to be completed at lower costs than with other financing. 

Open space provides natural filtration for the storm water reaching streams that feed water supplies.

Regional wastewater treatment facilities must be built by 2011 in the Cape Fear River basin to meet a state requirement.  Since regional facilities are cheaper to build, better for the environment, and preferred by state regulators, Cary is working with Apex, Morrisville, and Holly Springs on the $193 million project. 

For more information on the bond referendum, see Current Projects at www.townofcary.org.

Crime Scene Enumeration – Per Capita Rate in 2004 Matches 10-Year Low

The per capita violent crime rate in Cary was 53 percent lower in 2004 than it was in 1994.

Last year, the rate in Cary was as low as any year in the past decade.  The 2004 figure matched the 2000 rate of .9 (less than 1) violent crimes per 1,000 people.

Violent crime in Cary last year was down 18 percent over 2003.  Violent crimes include murder, rape, robbery and aggravated assault.

By examining these numbers over a decade, we’re trying to provide some context for them.

Property crimes include larceny, burglary, motor vehicle theft and arson.  From 1994 to 2004 reported property crime decreased 44 percent on a 1,000 population basis.  The decrease from 2003 to 2004 was 9 percent.

For more information on Cary crime statistics, contact Jennifer Morgan, crime analyst, at (919) 462-3815.

Giving Your Views on the ’05 Clean Water Bonds

The Town Council will hold a public hearing on the bond referendum Thursday, March 10.

The meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. in Herb Young Community Center on Town Hall campus.

The council could vote afterward on bond orders and officially set the balloting for May 3.

Independence Days

Survival skills are not just for reality TV contestants or Boy Scouts. Teenagers can use a few everyday survival skills.

Does your teen know how to get through some of the not so little things that come up in daily life? That could include surviving the transition to a new school, applying for a summer job, or getting along with new people.

This year’s Teen Forum will be on Saturday, March 5 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at Herb Young Community Center .

The purpose is to help teens handle more things on their own.

The fee for Cary residents is $5 ($7 on the day of the event.) Call (919) 460-4965 for details.

Back for this year’s forum is Sam Glenn with his humorous twist on dealing with life.

Bud Bits

We’ll hold an open house on March 7 from 4 – 7 p.m. at Page-Walker Arts & History Center for your input and questions or concerns on the proposed storm drainage assistance policy. Get copies of the proposed  policy from Storm Water Services in our Engineering Department. For more information, please call (919) 469-4038.

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Never pour chemicals or other hazardous substances into a storm drain, ditch or creek. They flow to water supplies.

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Prepare your lawn by testing for nutrient and lime needs. Get a soil test kit at Stevens Nature Center or call (919) 469-4090.

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For upcoming meetings, the BUD-TV schedule, and other information, click THIS WEEK on the home page of our Web site.

Conservation Conversation

The new 13-month graph displayed on your water bill can help you identify water patterns or problems.

The ebb and flow of water use may reflect seasonal irrigation habits.

It could also reveal a leak that is steadily growing worse. The graph and a surprisingly large bill could alert you to a severe water leak that should be addressed promptly.

During February, we’ve established a special Water Wise Hotline to address your questions and concerns. 

The purpose is to help you save water and money.

Call (919) 469-4090 and talk with our water conservation staff about your usage. You can also schedule a water assessment of your home to identify leaks, receive dye tablets to test for toilet leaks, or request showerheads, faucet aerators or toilet flapper rebate coupons.

Our water conservation staff is available for advice any time of year. It’s a good idea to call them at the same number if your water bill rises inexplicably.

Interchange Exchange – Trading Ideas on N.C. 55 / I-540

The future interchange of N.C. 55 and the Interstate 540 Outer Loop could someday draw people throughout the region for shopping, offices, housing, and parks and other public places.

We’re inviting citizens throughout Cary to join property owners and developers in envisioning what will surround the N.C. 55 / I-540 interchange.

Rather than let the plan evolve gradually in a series of meetings, we’re trying something new – a week-long open house, or “design charrette.” See the plan take shape, ask questions and provide feedback to consultants.

By involving everyone, we’re hoping for the best ideas and for consensus on what will be allowed to be built in the future.

Regional Center West will be the largest of Cary ’s regional activity centers. The others are Cary Towne Center , Crossroads, and Harrison Square Shopping Center / SAS Institute campus.

For more details, see Regional Center West under Current Projects on www.townofcary.org.

Just for Fun

Kite Festival - March 5

Bond Park, 1 p.m.

Stunt  kite demonstrations and a variety of awards. Free.

Details - (919) 469-4100

Cary Cup Open - March 18-20

Bond Park Community Center

4-star national competition plus special beginner’s class.

Details - (919) 601-1914

Photographer’s Eye  - March 8, March 15 & March 22

Page-Walker, 7 - 9 p.m.

Slides & lectures by regional photographers.  Free.

Details - (919) 460-4963

Water Ways – Navigating Treatment Rules

To meet state and federal regulations, our water treatment plant operators suspend the use of ammonia each March.

This is part of a balancing of treatment procedures to provide safe drinking water.

Those who use kidney dialysis machines should know that water may contain chlorine, ammonia, or a combination in March.

Water may smell more like chlorine and possibly be slightly discolored during March. Such changes are temporary.  Plant operators will test daily to ensure that chlorine levels are safe.  They’ll flush the system as needed to maintain water quality.

Check your water before washing white clothes. If it appears discolored, flush faucets for a few minutes. For more information, call (919) 469-4090.

Sounding the Alarm on a Silent Killer

Carbon dioxide is an invisible, odorless and colorless gas responsible for hundreds of deaths in the U.S. each year.

Called the silent killer, carbon monoxide, or CO, forms when fuels burn incompletely. These include wood, natural gas, propane, methane and gasoline.

Install CO alarms in your home outside each sleeping area. Call Cary firefighters at (919) 469-4056 to find out what number to call if the alarm sounds.

Test CO alarms each month.

Symptoms of CO poisoning include severe headache, dizziness, confusion and nausea. The risk of death is greatest in people who are 75 or older.

If you need to warm a vehicle, remove it from the garage immediately after starting it. Don’t run a vehicle if it’s covered in snow.

Don’t run vehicles, generators or other fueled motors indoors, even with the garage door open.

When using the fireplace, open the flue for adequate ventilation. Have it inspected each year.

Traffic Report

Cary was recognized as an Outstanding Traffic Safety Community in 2004 by the Carolina Motor Club Foundation for Traffic Safety.

Cities were chosen on crash statistics, number of law enforcement offers per capita, and existence of a traffic safety program and traffic division.

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